Before you come to NC know this... (Charlotte: real estate, big house)

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by i'minformed

The one thing I have always thought unimaginable that meteoroligists say could easily happen; is a Cat. 5 hurricane hitting the NC coast around Wilmington, and taking the same path as Fran. If it hit with winds of 170 on the coast, it would probably still have sustained winds of 120 when it got here to Raleigh. Fran was a cat 1 down from a cat 3 when it hit here. So a cat 5 would still be a cat 3!

Hurricane Hazel (October 15, 1954) was a category 4 when it came ashore around Calabash, NC and went through Wake County all the way into Canada. Nineteen people were killed in North Carolina, with several hundred more injured; 15,000 homes were destroyed and another 40,000 damaged. The highest measured winds were 98 mph in Wilmington, and 106 mph in Myrtle Beach, SC, while Fayetteville and Raleigh-Durham measured gusts of 110 mph and 90 mph respectively. Sustained 2-minute average winds of 78 mph were also observed in Raleigh. Other inland areas such as Goldsboro, Kinston, and Faison reached wind speeds estimated at 120 mph.

The storm maintained its intensity further inland than most storms because it was moving so quickly, reaching forward speeds of near 55 mph. Hazel accelerated northward through Raleigh, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. within a 4 hour period, and all the way to southeastern Canada within only 12 hours of landfall.

Sustained hurricane force winds overspread all of eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and the lower Maryland eastern shore, including 79 mph in Raleigh, 78mph in Norfolk, and 78 mph-Washington, D.C. The highest gusts at these locations approached or exceeded 100 mph, including an unofficial gust of 130mph in Hampton, VA. Locations as far north as New York State observed winds in excess of 90 mph.

A storm surge in excess of 15 feet inundated southeastern North Carolina from Southport to Topsail Beach, with an astounding 18-foot surge reported at high tide at Calabash and on the island of Holden Beach. Incredibly, all but 12 of the 300 cottages in Holden Beach were destroyed. The surge also leveled many of shrimp houses that lined the riverfront, and put coastal Brunswick and New Hanover counties under water, effectively wiping out the beaches.

[Carolina_native]

Well I was a kid when Hurricane Hugo hit here, I lived in Charlotte at the time. It hit Charleston and when Hugo got here it was still a hurricane, Winds gusted in Charlotte to 86 mph! It still had an eye when it passed over the city. We were without power for 2 weeks, no school for 2 weeks. I remember standing in line with my mother waiting our turn at the Winn Dixie (chain of grocery stores here) for our turn to go in the store and buy batteries and water. It caught EVERYONE by surprise. You could not drive on the streets because trees and power lines were down everywhere and there was a citywide curfew at night. I was small but I never forgot it. That was in 1989. Anyone living here at the time can tell you about that storm.

So it can happen in Charlotte too. That is why people get nervous in Charlotte when a hurricane threatens the SC coast.

[mmdj43]

NCKatie,

I do understand your point of view. But perhaps others should understand ours (the Northerners). We may be making a lot of $'s and selling our homes as such, but that came with a HUGE price tag. One of the main reasons us Northerners are looking to move to NC is for the better quality of life. I can't speak for all northerners, but my family and I want to get away from the hustle and bustle and also would want the American dream of having a large home for our families. What I've been reading throughout all these posts gives me the impression that people are stereotyping us (northerners). I know of many northerners that expect the same demanding jobs, and the ratrace of living, but at a lesser cost by moving to NC. However, there are also many others that just want to go along the same pace as the others in NC. I hope we are not all looked upon as being the rude Yankees; we just want what is best for our families....a good quality of life.

[mmdj43]

"The townies can expect that we will stand with them if it comes to that!"

I'm in agreement with you 100% on that statement. We will be moving to Charlotte from NY next month and I hope not to expect the same as what I've been experiencing here. That's the main reason for our move.

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by Carolina_native

...
So it can happen in Charlotte too. That is why people get nervous in Charlotte when a hurricane threatens the SC coast....

And New England got whacked by a vicious hurricane in September 1938. No place is perfectly safe from everything.

I will take my chances as opposed to enduring another winter in the Northeast like 2004-05, and 03-04, and 02-03, etc., etc., etc.

I'm glad we caught a break this year and guess what: today it's still in the 40s for the third straight day. Soon, this will be February/March weather for me!

[Markh]

Steve W, not to mention that this year we are way behind in snow and rain so bound to have a lot of water bans in effect this summer. I think that happens in NC also but this year in mass will be bad. The lake we used to camp on would be totally full by May 1 and this year it's still down almost 4 feet as of yesterday. Looks like no boating season for a lot of people this year.

[I'minformed2]

Originally Posted by mmdj43

NCKatie,

I do understand your point of view. But perhaps others should understand ours (the Northerners). We may be making a lot of $'s and selling our homes as such, but that came with a HUGE price tag. One of the main reasons us Northerners are looking to move to NC is for the better quality of life. I can't speak for all northerners, but my family and I want to get away from the hustle and bustle and also would want the American dream of having a large home for our families. What I've been reading throughout all these posts gives me the impression that people are stereotyping us (northerners). I know of many northerners that expect the same demanding jobs, and the ratrace of living, but at a lesser cost by moving to NC. However, there are also many others that just want to go along the same pace as the others in NC. I hope we are not all looked upon as being the rude Yankees; we just want what is best for our families....a good quality of life.

That sounds fine and dandy, but it's not realistic. NC is headed in the same path as NY, CA, and FL. With more population surge, the cost of living here will (already is in reality) go up. I'm a northerner who moved here 11 years ago and at that time, I'm from the interior NE so the pace of life wasn't all that different and the only thing I that was different was the housing stock (mostly new construction) and the warmer weather. I've gotten over both of those now and reality has sunk in. The cost of living is going up modestly now but will likely skyrocket by the mid 2010's. With more and more people moving here the traffic is something you'd never expect. Much like Atlanta and south Florida. Not to mention I'm a 12 hour ($200+ drive each way with gas and food) drive or a $300 per-person flight away from my family and old friends.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by Markh

Steve W, not to mention that this year we are way behind in snow and rain so bound to have a lot of water bans in effect this summer. I think that happens in NC also but this year in mass will be bad. The lake we used to camp on would be totally full by May 1 and this year it's still down almost 4 feet as of yesterday. Looks like no boating season for a lot of people this year.

NC Drought Map

[silverwing]

Originally Posted by mm34b

NC Drought Map

THANK YOU
We are in the ‘moderate drought’ area and it has been pretty bad. In the last couple of years, we’ve finally caught a break where there was just enough rain to lift us from the severe drought status. The previous five were quite bad. Autumn and early spring is when we get the replenishing rains, and those have been lacking over the last decade.

In 2002, homeowners on High Rock Lake squabbled that they wanted a rebate on property taxes because the lake levels had dropped so precipitously their shoreline had turned to a mudline. Lake Norman, Badin, and Tuckertown also suffered severe drops in level. Rowan County, where much of the city water is supplied by the Yadkin River, had to institute water rules, which in turn affected the Pee Dee. I’ve crossed the Uwharrie River (Davidson County – I-64) many times in the summer and have seen it reduced literally to a trickle.

Whether this has been a decade of anomalies in the amount of rainfall, or we are facing a climatic change, will be for those that want to argue. It’s just been a hell of a dry spell these last 10 years or so.

[Carolina Girl]

Originally Posted by nctarheel

Since there are obviously alot of people moving here from the north I thought Id give some advice to help everyone out.

1. Yes, the summers are hot and muggy. You will not be seeing much snow in the winter. I happen to like snow, but theres not much of it. If it does snow, you must go to the store and buy all the bread and milk you can. Dont ask. Its sort of a tradition.
2. For the LAST time, we dont care how you did it up North!
3. There is no more land available within a 40 mile radius of Charlotte and Raleigh, so dont waste the trip.
4. The Confederate flag is history and heritage. And May is Confederate history month.
5. Dont feel as though you have to like NASCAR, I used to like it, but dont anymore. (Dont get me started.)
6. Pronounce the names of your new city right. Northerners tend to not pronounce their "r", while in the South we emphasize our "r".


Just a few thoughts of mine for now. Feel free to add on what you like or have learned.

I especially like #2. I will add a couple in somewhat of a 'tongue in cheek' manner.

(1) Don't come planning to re-make us into your old home town. Enjoy our differences. Otherwise, why come.
(2) We don't marry our cousins.
(3) We aren't all 'uneducated' and in need of guidance.
(4) We aren't all practicing a 'mysterious religion'.
(5) Don't honk before the light changes or even the instant it does! (Remember that's what you wanted to get away from.)

Basically, it comes down to remembering that just because you saw it on TV (Primarily Andy of Mayberry or Gomer Pyle) doesn't mean it is true. That was TV and was intended for entertainment. As a native with a graduate level degree, I find it insulting when newcomers look at me with that 'downward' look and makes me want to ask 'Can we discuss what basis you have for feeling superior?". Do unto others.... and that isn't intended as a religious quote. Be cool.